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COVID-19 Testing

COVID-19 TESTING CANCELLED - THUR, DEC. 17

Testing has been cancelled for Thursday, December 17, and appointments are being rescheduled. Please call 617.927.6000 with any questions.

COVID-19 vaccinations at Fenway Health are currently on pause as we await updated guidance from the CDC on the administration of new vaccine formulations that are designed to better protect against current strains of the virus.  We expect that guidance any day now.

In response to a recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts, we are expanding our COVID testing hours. Our new testing hours are M-F, 8:00 AM-2:50 PM.

If you are experiencing COVID-like symptoms, we strongly recommend that you get tested, even if you are fully vaccinated and boosted.

*Please note: testing appointments have been filling up quickly. If you try to book an appointment at Fenway Health and we are fully booked, please check the City of Boston’s testing center page (Boston residency may be required) and the Massachusetts list of testing sites for a location that is convenient for you. Additionally, the state of Massachusetts has teamed up with Labcorp to provide convenient at-home COVID-19 test kits for MA residents. Click here to learn more.

Need to get your COVID-19 vaccination or booster shot? Click here.

We are currently conducting COVID-19 testing on Fenway Health patients regardless of whether or not you have symptoms.

  • Testing is available by appointment during regularly scheduled testing hours.
    • Call 617.927.6000 to schedule your test.
    • Even though a pre-testing telehealth screening is no longer required, you may still request one if you would like. 

COVID-19 Testing and Inclement Weather
Our COVID-19 testing and appointment schedule may be impacted by inclement weather. If you are scheduled for a test and we need to reschedule due to weather, we will notify you via text message or phone call. Weather-related changes to our schedule will also be posted on this page.

General COVID-19 Info

Latest Posts on COVID-19

All COVID-19 Blog Posts

COVID-19 TESTING FAQs

  • Call 617.927.6000. You will be contacted within one day with your appointment date/time.
  • Please read the important information below before reporting for your test.

Once someone is referred for testing, they will be contacted within 1 day to schedule an appointment date/time with directions to the testing site

  • Please ensure that you are in your car or the car of someone who can safely drive you to the appointment. If you are having symptoms, please do not take public transportation or ride apps.
  • Please remember this Quest nasal swab test and may be uncomfortable
  • Please wear a mask or face covering
  • Please bring tissues with you
  • Please bring a form of government issued identification with you
  • Results will be available about 1-2 days after you are tested after you are tested but could take up to 3 days depending on the volume of tests being sent to the lab. If you have not been contacted, it is because your results are not yet available.
  • Click here to create an account with Quest Diagnostics to get your results.
  • You will be provided with a handout for patients and their caregivers when COVID-19 is suspected or confirmed
  • Getting tested for travel? Due to an increase in demand in testing across the country, we cannot guarantee results within a specific time frame. Currently, it may take up to 3 days to receive COVID-19 PCR test results. Please note that testing for travel purposes may or may not be covered by your insurance.

  • You will be greeted by a Fenway Health staff member who will provide you with an extended length cotton swab. This is a self-swab process, so you will use the swab to collect a specimen from just inside both of your nasal passages.
  • The staff member will review the steps of this process with you and be nearby for any questions.
  • The test itself will last about 30-45 seconds.
  • The test may be a little uncomfortable and may trigger a sneeze response or cause your eyes to water.
  • You can bring tissues with you to the visit and we will have some on site as well.
  • Some bleeding may occur after the test; this is normal. If you are taking any blood thinners, you can still get the test, you will just want to be aware of any abnormal bleeding post swab.

You should not receive a bill for COVID-19 testing but if you do you can resolve the bill by following these steps:

STEP 1: Contact your insurance company to find out if there was an issue with how they processed your claim. Explain that you received a bill for COVID 19 testing.

STEP 2: If you are not able to find a resolution through your insurance company, follow up as below:

  • If you received an unexpected bill for your COVID 19 test, please call the Quest Diagnostics lab at 833. 209.8311.
  • If you received an unexpected bill for your COVID 19 telehealth visit, please call the Fenway Billing department at 617.927.6050.

Testing will often be provided at no cost to you if you have symptoms or were in close contact with a COVID-positive person. Please check with your specific insurance plan about COVID-19 testing cost coverage.

If you are experiencing symptoms, please do not take public transportation or a ride share to your testing appointment.

  • Results will be delivered via text message
  • If your testing is negative, this means you likely were not infected with coronavirus
  • This is a new test and there can be small risk of false negative results and thus, if your symptoms persist or worsen please reach out to your primary care team
  • You are still at risk for getting infected with COVID 19 so we advise that you continue to take preventative measures to protect yourself to avoid exposures to coronavirus

  • We will call you with your results
  • A positive test confirms that you have COVID-19 infection and that you were recently infected with Coronavirus. If you tested positive but do not have any symptoms, you are still able to infect others. Please review these tips for keeping your friends and family COVID free.
  • On December 26, 2021 the CDC updated their guidance for COVID-19 individuals. Based on these guidelines, everyone who tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status should:
  • Stay home for 5 days (except to get medical care).
  • If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house.
  • Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days. If you continue to have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves without the use of fever reducing medication.
  • You should call Fenway Health immediately if you develop a fever greater than or equal to 100.4 F or 38C, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Follow these helpful home care instructions:

What to Know About At-Home COVID-19 Tests:

  • Free at-home COVID-19 tests are now available from US Dept. of Health and Human Services. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free tests. Click here for more information and to order your tests.
  • At-home tests can help you, your family, and others stay safe from COVID-19 infection.
  • You can use at-home tests whether you’re vaccinated or not, whether you feel sick or not.
  • At-Home COVID-19 tests are antigen tests that look for the presence of proteins associated with the SARS-CoV2 virus (COVID-19). These tests can detect COVID-19 when you are most likely to be contagious. They are not as accurate as COVID-19 PCR tests.
  • Follow the instructions in the kit for performing the test.
  • Results are typically available within 20 minutes or less.
  • A positive at-home test result means that the test found COVID-19, and you are very likely to have an infection. See below for more information on positive results.
  • A negative at-home test result means that the test did not find COVID-19, but you could still be infected. To be extra safe, repeat the test within a few days, with at least 24 hours between tests.

When and Where to Use At-Home COVID-19 Tests:

  • You can use at-home tests if you feel sick, may have been around someone with COVID-19, or want peace of mind before going to a gathering.
  • If you don’t feel sick the CDC recommends getting tested five days after you have been around someone with COVID-19.
  • Even if you don’t feel sick and have not been around someone with COVID-19, using an at-home test before being indoors with others helps lessen the risk of spreading COVID-19. This is especially important before being with unvaccinated people, older people, people who are immunocompromised, or people at risk of severe disease.

If Your Test is Positive:

  • If you test positive, you should isolate and tell your healthcare provider, as well as any close contacts.
    • A close contact is someone who was less than 6 feet away from a person with COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
  • Stay home and isolate for 10 days and wear a mask if others could have contact with you.
  • If you are feeling very sick, call your primary care provider. If you have trouble breathing, go to your local emergency room or call 911.
  • A person with COVID-19 can begin spreading it starting 48 hours (or 2 days) before the person feels sick or tests positive.
  • If you think your positive test result is wrong, get a COVID-19 test that uses the more accurate PCR method.

Instructions for QuickVue At-Home COVID-19 Tests:

A nasal swab test looks for virus particles in an active COVID-19 infection whereas an antibody test looks for antibodies made by your body in response to a COVID-19 exposure or infection.

There is no specific treatment for coronavirus at this time. As with other illnesses, the best thing you can do is rest and make sure you drink enough fluids. If you have fever or pain, use Tylenol (acetaminophen) first. If Tylenol is not working you can also use NSAIDS (ibuprofen, naproxen, or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) as long as your doctor has not told you to avoid NSAIDs. You can also take other prescribed medicines unless you have been told not to. Do not take any medicines unless they are prescribed to you.

If you have symptoms, please stay home until your test result comes back. Until you receive your test results, or until your symptoms are completely gone, please follow the advice below:

  • Stay home. Do not leave your house except to get medical care. Do not go to work, school, public places, or stores. Do not use public transportation, like the bus or subway. Do not invite friends or family over unless absolutely needed.
  • Seek medical care. Over the next few days, you may feel better, but there may be days you feel worse. If you or a member of your household develops fever, cough, or shortness of breath, they should call their primary care team. If you think you need a visit, please call your primary care team before going to the emergency room. They will be able to give you advice over the phone. In an emergency, always dial 911.
  • Stay safe. Stay in one room of the house by yourself. Keep the window open if you can. Use a separate bathroom if you can. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your face, mouth, eyes, and nose. Cough or sneeze into a tissue.
  • Keep things clean. Do not share kitchen items (dishes, cups, silverware) or towels/bedding with others. Clean any surfaces you touch like doorknobs, bathroom faucets, toilets, phones, lamps and light switches at least once a day.

Your family and close contacts People you live with or work with closely are at risk for Coronavirus if you have it. Your household members should stay home for 14 days from your first day of symptoms. They should not go to work or school. If you were at work or elsewhere while you had symptoms, people you were in close contact with (like sharing an office) should stay home for 14 days too.

Click here for more information about COVID-19 testing in the state of Massachusetts.

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Fenway Health receives HRSA Health Center Program grant funding under 42 U.S.C. § 254b and has been deemed a Public Health Service employee for purposes of certain liability protections, including Federal Tort Claims Act coverage, under 42 U.S.C. § 233 (g)–(n).

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